Breast-Feeding Analgesia in Infants: An Update on the Current State of Evidence

J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2017 Apr/Jun;31(2):145-159. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000253.

Abstract

To provide an updated synthesis of the current state of the evidence for the effectiveness of breast-feeding and expressed breast milk feeding in reducing procedural pain in preterm and full-term born infants. A systematic search of key electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE) was completed. Of the 1032 abstracts screened, 21 were found eligible for inclusion. Fifteen studies reported on the use of breast-feeding or expressed breast milk in full-term infants and 6 reported on preterm infants. Direct breast-feeding was more effective than maternal holding, maternal skin-to-skin contact, topical anesthetics, and music therapy, and was as or more effective than sweet tasting solutions in full-term infants. Expressed breast milk was not consistently found to reduce pain response in full-term or preterm infants. Studies generally had moderate to high risk of bias. There is sufficient evidence to recommend direct breast-feeding for procedural pain management in full-term infants. Based on current evidence, expressed breast milk alone should not be considered an adequate intervention.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesia / methods*
  • Breast Feeding*
  • Breast Milk Expression
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Care / methods
  • Infant Health
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain, Procedural / etiology
  • Pain, Procedural / prevention & control*
  • Pregnancy
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Term Birth